The fifth episode of season 12 of The Masked Singer debuted on October 23, airing on FOX, featuring a special theme dubbed Barbie Night. This particular episode honored Mattel’s iconic Barbie as part of her 65th anniversary celebration, with contestants and judges Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Rita Ora, and Robin Thicke joining in the festivities.
As the episode drew to a close, the contestant known as Chess Piece garnered the least support from viewers and was therefore eliminated from the competition. Following a series of incorrect guesses from the judges, it was disclosed that Chess Piece was none other than Laverne Cox, famed for her role in Orange Is the New Black.
The official summary for episode 5 stated:
“Join us in the Barbie Dream House for an inside look at the Group B celebrities as they celebrate 65 years of Mattel’s Barbie, a tribute to over six decades of breaking barriers and motivating girls to unleash their full potential!”
What led to the elimination of Chess Piece on The Masked Singer season 12 episode 5?
During episode 5 of The Masked Singer, Chess Piece shared a heartfelt story about her childhood connection to Barbie. In her clue package, she reflected on being a “rich target for mockery”and how she often felt that every aspect of her was subjected to criticism.
Cox revealed her fondness for Barbie, despite not being allowed to play with her as a child.
“The scrutiny I faced over the years caused me to question everything I cherished about myself. I had to reclaim my own narrative, and the one thing I missed profoundly was Barbie,”she expressed.
She disclosed that she started purchasing Barbie dolls for herself, realizing that it is never too late to revisit joyful moments from her childhood. Additionally, she mentioned that a Barbie doll had been designed in her likeness, establishing a unique bond with the beloved toy.
“Barbie embodies endless possibilities,”Cox stated, emphasizing how this notion empowered her and many women worldwide to pursue their dreams. She dedicated her performance on Barbie Night to celebrating women’s boundless potential.
“Even after all these years, she inspires women to believe they can achieve anything. Tonight, I am here to honor every woman out there,”Chess Piece asserted.
Chess Piece chose the perfect anthem for the occasion, delivering an impressive performance of “I’m Every Woman”by Chaka Khan, showcasing her impressive vocal range. The judges thought they recognized the voice behind the mask after her performance. Following this, the Men-in-Pink presented a Barbie toy crafted in her image.
Another clue related to Barbie was in the form of a Barbie mirror set. Chess Piece noted that while she owned a toy version, her real life counterpart was embodied in the life-sized Barbie doll.
With all clues considered, the panel attempted to guess Chess Piece’s identity, contemplating possibilities such as Tyra Banks, Misty Copeland, or Issa Rae.
At the conclusion of episode 5, the votes were tallied, placing Chess Piece at the bottom of the rankings. This led to her unmasking and the revelation of her identity to both the audience and the panel.
Before the big reveal, the judges made their final guesses regarding the identity behind the mask: Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg speculated it was Serena Williams, while Ken Jeong thought it was Issa Rae. Robin Thicke suggested Misty Copeland, and Rita Ora proposed Tyra Banks.
Ultimately, all guesses were off the mark, as Chess Piece turned out to be Laverne Cox from Orange Is the New Black.
New episodes of The Masked Singer season 12 air every Wednesday on FOX.
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